My Mom's Last Letter

My Mom's Last Letter by Chrissy Washburn

Commentary:

This short story shows how love can make live worth living up until the time of one's death. It's a heartwarming story of a mother who was kind, caring and full of positive energy, and how she faced death with extraordinary valor and peacefulness. The fact that Chrissy's mom left the world in the most serene manner reflected how she was a blessed soul, She left a legacy of love and kindness that everybody should emulate.

You may request a free copy of the book HERE. 

Giveaway:

I'm giving away my copy, courtesy of the author. If you're living in SLC, UT, and would like to read the book, please contact me at aikychien@yahoo.com. You can come pick up the book later.

Extraordinary...Not?

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Phoebe is drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new girl at school. Soon the two become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory’s magnetic older brother, Ryland, arrives. Ryland has an immediate hold on Phoebe — but it turns into something dangerous, as she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon Phoebe discovers the shocking, fantastical truth about Ryland and Mallory, and about an age-old debt she’s meant to pay. Will she be strong enough to save herself from the curse?

The story and the whole concept was too old-fashioned, or should I say weird. The pace was much too draggy, when the plot was only based on a story/fairy tale that could have been 3 pages at most. The conversations of the fey children with the fairy queen were monotonous and slightly robotic, written in an amateurish style. I find that these conversations were rather annoying and unnecessary as it breaks the reader's focus on the story line. I did not enjoy this book very much, and I skipped several pages at once while reading, but it wasn't all bad. The good parts are the story from which the Rothschild ancestor came in touch with the fey and the bargain, and the fact that although Mallory was a changeling, she had real concerns and cares for her human mother. On a side note, the book cover is gorgeous! 

Rating: 

Pearl of China

Synopsis

It is the end of the nineteenth century and China is riding on the crest of great change, but for nine-year-old Willow, the only child of a destitute family in the small southern town of Chin-kiang, nothing ever seems to change. Until the day she meets Pearl, the eldest daughter of a zealous American missionary.

Pearl is head-strong, independent and fiercely intelligent, and will grow up to be Pearl S Buck, the Pulitzer- and Nobel Prize-winning writer and humanitarian activist, but for now all Willow knows is that she has never met anyone like her in all her life. From the start the two are thick as thieves, but when the Boxer Rebellion rocks the nation, Pearl's family is forced to leave China to flee religious persecution. As the twentieth century unfolds in all its turmoil, through right-wing military coups and Mao's Red Revolution, through bad marriages and broken dreams, the two girls cling to their lifelong friendship across the sea. 

Review

Anchee Min's Pearl of China is a heartwarming tale about the friendship of two girls —— a country bumpkin (Willow) and a white-skinned, blue-eyed Chinese (Pearl). The fates of these two have been entwined since young, when Pearl's father (Absalom) came on a mission to spread gospel in a small town called Chin-kiang. Willow's father was poor and though he first embraced Christianity and became Absalom's sidekick for physical sustainability, he gradually became a staunch believer and promoter of his faith, attracting the masses and converting many people in his life.

Willow and Pearl's friendship spanned throughout their whole lifetime, creating a wonderful memoir of timeless friendship against the backdrop of Mao Tse Tung's reign and fall in China. It was interesting that Min inserted a love story between Pearl and Tsu Chih Mo, a legendary contemporary poet who was known for his constant pursue of love and romance, and had Willow playing the stuck-in-the-middle person. Willow had her eyes on Tsu, but Tsu's eyes reflect only Pearl's image. Willow, albeit initially wallowed in jealousy, finally decided to give her blessing to her favourite man Tsu and best friend Pearl. She became the lovers' middle-woman, giving the pair a chance to rendezvous.  

From the beginning till the end, Pearl was by heart a Chinese, she loved Willow as a sister she never had, and Willow loved Pearl dearly against all odds. Fine as this story was, I think Pearl of China lacked a certain oomph factor that makes a good book a great book.

Rating:  

The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura

The Thief
by Fuminori Nakamura

SYNOPSIS

The Thief is a seasoned pickpocket. Anonymous in his tailored suit, he weaves in and out of Tokyo crowds, stealing wallets from strangers so smoothly sometimes he doesn’t even remember the snatch. Most people are just a blur to him, nameless faces from whom he chooses his victims. He has no family, no friends, no connections. But he does have a past, which finally catches up with him. And now the Thief is caught in a tangle even he might not be able to escape.

REVIEW

Despite being such a short novel, The Thief is fast-paced and entirely engrossing. It chronicles the life of an experienced pick-pocket, who got caught in a web of events which are much bigger than what he expected. 

Nishimura is a loner, he has no family, no friends and no connections. Being a thief, it's the best for him that way. However, when he accepted a task of robbing a political figure, his life started to change. He also grew a friendly relationship with a little boy who steals food supplies for his prostitute mother. When his past comes back to haunt him, he has no choice but to accept new tasks, or risks the little boy and his mother being killed, and also his own life.

I read this novel with a kind of intensity I do not experience often. It was so captivating that I couldn't put it down. The chapters were short and sweet, but there's always something up. The only thing I had against was the ending. It leaves the story unresolved. It's like a cliffhanger, but it isn't cos this is a stand-alone novel. I really want to know what's gonna happen next! I'm so flabbergasted when I realize that's where it ends. 

RATING

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

SYNOPSIS

Katherine has moved away from her shattered family to start afresh in Sydney. There she keeps her head down until she is befriended by the charismatic, party-loving Alice, who brings her out of her shell. But there is a dark side to Alice, something seductive yet threatening. And as Katherine learns the truth about Alice, their tangled destinies spiral to an explosive and devastating finale. 

REVIEW

If anything, this is not a lighthearted read. It is 1 cup of darkness, 2 cups of psychological thriller and 1 cup of twisted - which makes up to a 4 star Beautiful Malice.

Katherine moved away from home to live with Aunt Vivien, changing her name from the original Katie Boydell in order to escape the tragic history that broke her family apart. She is constantly consumed by grief, guilt, regret and self-blame. She closes herself up and becomes a quiet girl in the new school, until she meets Alice. Wild, fun and charming, Alice quickly becomes Katherine's best friend. But underneath her seductive charm, there seems to be another side to Alice, which makes her unbelievably cruel and uncaring towards others. Katherine dismisses these as bad hair days, but she slowly realizes that Alice is not who she thinks is.

Katherine is someone we can sympathize with - she is not without blame, for it was she who indirectly caused the tragedy. But we cannot exactly put the blame on her because it was not her doing in the first place. She merely did what a normal person would do - running away, although it was a cowardly thing to do. But even if she didn't, it wouldn't have changed much.

Alice is one really messed up character. She is someone devoid of love, she is cruel and plays others' around her fingertips. A real psycho, if you ask me. But again it's not entirely her fault she's like this. Rebecca James is a master at creating characters that we hate but sympathize with at the same time, it seems. 

Beautiful Malice is pretty good for a debut novel, and fans of Shift would find this book interesting.

RATING:  

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

SYNOPSIS

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

REVIEW

I haven't had the chance to watch the movie, but I really want to now that I've finally read the book. It was funny, touching, witty and most importantly - it is full of love and sincere friendship. 

I am ashamed for myself when I see these people treating sickness so openly, when pity weighs me down every time I talk to someone who is sick or has a disability. In fact, what they want is just you look straight into their eyes and talk to them like a normal person, sometimes even joke about the sickness.

I particularly love how John Green managed to deliver so many messages behind this book while not being preachy or quote-ridden. It just feels like a fresh breath of air, one that brings the sweet scent of flowers even though it's invisible.

The relationship between Hazel and Gus is very touching and deep, and by some greater sense they can be considered as soulmates, two people who love each other so much that the pain that comes with loving becomes part and parcel of it. Even if you can be given the choice to cut the other person out of your heart, you will still choose to love despite the pain.

This is a book that will stay in my bookshelf for a very long time, if not forever.

RATING: 

Hazel Grace: “I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?”  ----- This line is the saddest thing I've ever heard.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

I use Grammarly's plagiarism finder because it keeps me free from paper plague!

  

 City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Hardcover, 535 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry 

Synopsis

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Review

In this latest installment, Clary is shocked to find out that Jace is bound to Sebastian, both mentally and physically. It is impossible to separate them - if you hurt one, the other bleeds. If one dies, the other will not live. Jace now even commits himself fully to support Sebastian's greater cause, even though his love for Clary still remains. So Clary and the gang brainstormed a way to separate the inseparable duo without hurting Jace in the process.

I love how Clare portrays the deep love between Jace and Clary, and the bond between Clary and the supporting characters that make them more like family than mere friends. The storyline is refreshing , unlike some novels in a series that keep on repeating the same things due to lack of ideas. The story is packed with action, drama and suspense, which makes it hard not to fall in love with. Finally, it feels good to admit that Clare's penmanship and wonderful ideas for creative story writing still amazes me to no end. Reading this book was a breeze, and a cooling one for that. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

 

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines  

Synopsis

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena.

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through.  Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family.

Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying.

The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him...

Review 

Maybe I expected too much, since it was compared to the Hunger Games series, which is one of my all-time favourites.

I love the interaction between Lyn and her stepfather, as well as her close relationship with her brother, but there is not much substance and plot, which is something I look for in any novel I read. Sure, the idea of how Lyn will fight Uber is interesting, but why does it take so long for the story to reach there? It was almost until the end when that happened. 

My favourite character in this book would be Thad (Lyn's brother) who seems to have a penchant and talent in predicting people's futures. He's somewhat disorientated but he seems to know clearly what is going to happen in his family. 

All in all, I can't say that I love it, but it's not too bad either.

What do you think? Do you like it?

Rating:

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 17th 2013 by Balzer & Bray

  
Review

I thought this was going to be another epic ghost story. Yes, I did not read the synopsis, and yes the cover looks creepily awesome.

Why I Didn't Like The Book:
1. No scare-factor. 
This book did not give me the creepy crawlies feeling. It was just meh. So what about the predatory Nox which enjoy killing sprees every night, you ask? I expected something of more substance - not much was said about the creatures other than they enjoyed human flesh. Well, isn't that obvious?

2. Lots of WTF moments.

• Josie asking her fake dad to steal a government-secured machine for her, and he agreed easily. Turned out to be the biggest mistake ever! [What did momma say about not trusting anyone in this world, dear Josie?]
• Josie making out with the other Nick shortly after a Nox attack, and she accidentally touched fake dad's severed leg. [Wouldn't the stench of blood and death hang in the air after the animals had their meal? Why would anyone make out in that situation?!! It was beyond my comprehension.]
• Jo, Josie's doppelganger who was supposed to be a selfish girl, became good and helped Josie out on her quest the instant she asked it! [Where's the logic in this?!!]
• Jo was happy and didn't care one bit after her dad got chewed into pieces by the Nox. [Even if she hated him, wouldn't she feel the slightest tinge of emotion on his passing?]
• Dr. Bryne and Jo turned out to be good characters after all! [Again - logic please!]

3. It's sci-fi, but it doesn't sound like one.  

4. Flat, one-dimensional characters. 
The characters are boring if nothing else. 

Considering how I had loved McNeil's TEN, it is hard to hide my disappointment in 3:59. My advice to her? Don't venture into sci-fi if you don't know what you're writing.

Rating:

Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Sheperd

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Hardcover, 432 pages

Published January 29th 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Review

The Madman’s Daughter is a refreshing take on the YA genre. There are no vamps, demons, fallen angels or mystical beings, but there is something which is far more fascinating and repulsing –strange half-human, half-animal beings created by a scientist/surgeon gone mad.

I knew The Madman’s Daughter is something to watch out for from the very beginning. The story opens with young Juliet scrubbing her youth away at the King’s College of Medical Research. She used to live in the lap of luxury, but that was before her father’s scandal hit home and they lost everything – wealth, relatives, relations and home. Her mother had to become some rich man’s mistress to support Juliet and herself when her father went missing.

Then, by fate’s arrangement, she found Montgomery, a handsome young man who used to be their home servant. Aside the romantic feelings Juliet has for him as a young girl, she also found out that her father is still alive somewhere out there. What would a desperate girl do? Beg Montgomery to bring her to her Father, of course.

However, when she arrived at the island with a castaway they saved in the ocean, her instinct was to hide from her father. And perhaps reunion with her Father was not as exciting and happy as she had imagined.

The story itself is actually a retelling of a Wells’ classic, but new characters and twists in the storyline have made The Madman’s Daughter an enjoyable read. I witnessed the horrors a madman will do to challenge God’s power of creation, even to the extent of considering to use her own daughter as a specimen for an experiment. The story contains a few reference to Christianity, but the story itself is not religious or anything. I would rather say that the reference of religion is to act as a comparative to Dr. Morreau’s horrifying acts.

Read this if you like horror, Sci-fi or YA with a twist.

Rating:

About The Author

Megan Shepherd was "born" into the book world, growing up in her parents' independent bookstore in Western North Carolina. She is the author of THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER trilogy (Balzer+Bray/2013), and THE CAGE trilogy (Balzer+Bray/2015). When Megan is not writing, she can usually be found horseback riding, day dreaming at coffee shops, or hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. She is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.

Book Review : Candy and the Cankersaur

 

Candy and the Cankersaur by Jason Sandberg

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Released: June 18, 2012

Visit the author's Website

About The Book

This is the sweet and funny tale of a young girl named Candy and her Cankersaurus Rex! Candy receives a dinosaur as a gift and is determined to train him to be a good pet. This playful homage to Syd Hoff will make all dinosaur-crazy boys and girls happy! Enjoy!

As a bedtime story Picture Book it’s aimed for children ages 3-6.

As a read-alone Picture Book it’s appropriate for children ages 6-9.

Review

Candy and the Cankersaur is a lovely children's book. It has a lot of beautifully-drawn pictures which will surely attract kids' attention and a storyline that is cute and exciting. It will also teach kids the value of friendship and the happiness that comes with it. Some kids might not be familiar with the 'big' words in the book, so I would recommend parents to go through with their children to guarantee a better understanding of the story. Candy and the Cankersaur will be a great bedtime story for kids too.

Glossary / Big words in the book:
1. purchased, globe pg 4
2. appreciate pg 5
3. pestered pg 6
4. spectacular, companionship pg 7
5. summoned, crate pg 8
6. Paleontologist pg 9
7. devoured, pg 13
8. sulk, Zoologist, pg 17
9. salamander pg 20
10. specialized, oddities pg 21
11. amused, thrilled, ferocious, terrifying pg 26
12. gasped pg 27
13. reuniting pg 28
14. intent, refund pg 29
15. conclusion pg 30

Book Review : Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

 

Anastasia's Secret by Susanne Dunlap

Available on The Book Depository

Synopsis

For Anastasia Romanov, life as the privileged daughter of Russia's last tsar is about to be torn apart by the bloodshed of revolution. Ousted from the imperial palace when the Bolsheviks seize control of the government, Anastasia and her family are exiled to Siberia. But even while the rebels debate the family's future with agonizing slowness and the threat to their lives grows more menacing, romance quietly blooms between Anastasia and Sasha, a sympathetic young guard she has known since childhood. But will the strength of their love be enough to save Anastasia from a violent death?

Review

Anastasia's Secret is a book that adheres to the history with precision (besides Anastasia's budding romance with a barrack soldier named Sasha), but sadly I don't see much imagination and creativity. The familial ties were quite touching, though. They stayed together until the end even though they knew it may mean imminent death. There was little appearance of the mysterious "holy man" called Rasputin, and the author dismissed him easily by proceeding quickly to his death. 

I had hoped the author would take a more daring approach to the storytelling rather than sticking to the safe zone. As the fate of the Grand Duchess Anastasia is still a mystery, I would appreciate it if Susanne Dunlap had injected a portion of her wild imagination and ended the story with a twist.

I would say that Anastasia's Secret is rather well-written, but there is still much room for improvement. And a kind note of reminder, the summary at the back cover of the book should only describe happenings within 50 pages of the novel. You never want to give too much away - always keep your best card until the end.

 Rating:

About The Author

Susanne Dunlap is the author of six works of historical fiction. Two are for the adult market (Emilie's Voice and Liszt's Kiss, both published by Touchstone books of Simon & Schuster). Three are for the young adult market (The Musician's Daughter, Anastasia's Secret, In the Shadow of the Lamp, and the forthcoming The Academie, published by Bloomsbury). A graduate of Smith College with a PhD in Music History from Yale University, Susanne grew up in Buffalo, New York and has lived in London, New York and Northampton, MA. She now divides her time between Brooklyn and Northampton, has two grown daughters, two granddaughters, and is an avid cyclist and dog lover.

http://www.susannedunlap.com

Book Review: Overnight Sensation by Hal Eisenberg

                           Overnight Sensation by Hal Eisenberg

GRAB THE BOOK! :
Amazon     Barnes &Noble     Smashwords

                             
                                   From Goodreads

Fifteen year old Jonah Levine is practically invisible at Applecrest High. His Facebook page is pathetic, his baseball skills are mediocre at best, and his IQ seems to drop 50 points when talking to girls. However, everything changes when his rock band, Hitstreak becomes the hottest teen sensation in the country.

So why isn't he jumping for joy?

Well, for starters, that hit on the radio wasn't really recorded by his band. In fact, six months ago, he and his friends could barely play a note between them. And now they're about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. What began as a mindless prank had quickly spun out of control, involving his father's secret past as a 70's rocker, a high school bully who wants in on the action, and a powerful, ruthless, media mogul who will stop at nothing to claim the band as his own. Will Jonah prevail? Or will he and his band go down in flames and become the biggest farce in pop music history?

                                   
                                    

"Ever wonder what it's like to be a major rockstar?".. YES!

Overnight Sensation is definitely one of the few books that somehow managed to get me reading the whole book in one sitting. And no, I am not exaggerating. Overnight Sensation is the kind of books which made me feel, think and laugh. I had high expectations for this book that constantly got me waiting to be amazed that I got too busy trying to find that special moment to really enjoy it. I failed....

But once I read it all over again, committing myself to just READ, that's when I saw the beauty of the story written by the Hal.

The thing I loved most about Overnight Sensation would be Hal's way of writing. He has this kind of skills that creeps in little by little that makes a paragraph seems like any other regular paragraphs in the world of books, up until I reach its end and BAM!!

It seems to me that Hal Eisenberg really understand teenagers. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Experiencing' what Jonah Levine (Joman) and his band go through, combined with their sarcasm and banters. To me, the characters are the most important thing in Young Adult contemporary literature, because without them all that's left is the real world. But Overnight Sensation does not have characters.... it has people that you'll empathize with and desperately want to know more about. I totally fell in love with them; their quirks, their humors, their interactions, their passions,.....Hal, well done! 

 It's an overall amazing book and I will heavily recommend it to anyone on Earth that are trying to look for meanings and are interested in a good read.

 - Good!!

Extras

Note of Thanks
Million thanks to Hal Eisenberg for the wonderful signed, paperback copy of Overnight Sensation, and I'm keeping that swag pack! Woohoo!!

Hal Eisenberg is a writer with a background in advertising. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, two boys, a Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrior named Maddie, and McCartney, an African Grey Parrot who just celebrated his thirtieth birthday (LIKE SERIOUSLY?? WHAT?). Visit Hal on the web at: Hal Eisenberg and on the Overnight Sensation Facebook page. 

Book Review : New Girl by Paige Harbison

 

New Girl by Paige Harbison 

Paperback, 320 pages

Published January 31st 2012 by HarlequinTeen (first published January 1st 2012) 

Available on Barnes And Noble:

Paperback $9.49

ISBN 0373210426 (ISBN13: 9780373210428)

Synopsis 

 The Queen Bee is missing. Will you be next?

 

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend…but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back...

Review  

First of all, I apologized for the posting this review after quite some time. I have to say that when I got this book one month ago, I was extremely excited, as it was described as "Gossip Girl meets Mallory Towers with a dash of gothic chill thrown in for good measure!"  

However, to my disappointment, it was nothing like gossip girl, but Mallory Towers, yes. Despite all that, I still think that this is a good book to read.  

"The New Girl" whose name is only mentioned at the end of the book, comes to Manderly Academy for her senior year. It has always been her dream to go to a boarding school. And when her parents finally got her in, she was struck to the fact of leaving everything she used to have behind, especially the things she love. Space is limited at Manderly Academy, so she have to take a spot that recently opened up due to the mysterious disappearance of a student named Becca. 

Rebecca or Becca Normandy had been the “it girl” of the school. She dated the hottest guy, was beautiful, rich and could be friend anyone. This reminds me of Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl, probably why it is described as Gossip Girl meets Mallory Towers. Unfortunately, like all Queen Bees, Becca was not a very nice person. She was manipulative, cruel, and sough the spotlight at any cost.

The thing that stood out the most about this book was the mystery that surrounded the storyline. If Becca is so popular, why did she go missing? How did she go missing? Could someone have forced Becca to disappear? This definitely kept me hooked while reading the book, wanting to know what happened to the mysterious Becca.

The New Girl has nothing to do with Becca, but she has been under Becca's shadow ever since she reached Manderly Academy. She can't help falling for Becca’s ex-boyfriend, Max and Max's best friend, Johnny seemed to be interested in her.  Max was hot and cold towards her that she was confused about the way he acted.

Switching between Callie and Becca’s points of view makes the story much more interesting and allows the reader a look into Becca’s mind, explaining her motivation for the things she did. This book is a good mystery and would be perfect for an audience of teen girls.

If you're a fan of Mystery and Suspense, I would recommend this book to you. To me, New Girl was one of those books that you'd either love it or hate it. I take no sides and rate it 3/5.
 

Rating:    

About The Author

Paige Harbison grew up on the outskirts of Washington D.C. and is the daughter of New York Times Bestselling author Beth Harbison. Paige is currently working toward her Bachelor's Degree at Towson University in Baltimore, MD. 

Find Her :
twitter: twitter.com/paigeharbison
facebook: facebook.com/paige.harbison
website: www.paigeharbison.com

Book Review : Shine by Lauren Myracle

 Shine by Lauren Myracle

Hardcover, 350 pages

Published May 1st 2011 by Amulet Books
Available on The Book Depository:
Hardcover $15.52 / Paperback 7.95

Synopsis

When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. 

Review

When I started reading this book, I had no idea how much it would grow on me. Shine is a book that deals with broken friendships, mistrusts, sexuality, violence and drugs - but negative vibes aside, this book is very gripping and fast-paced, and you will find yourself quickly transported to the small town of Black Creek, a place where evil lurks.

Cat is a strong character, although she may not know this hidden ability of hers at first. Rage and fury stoke her inner fire, but she later realizes that she has power and control over herself, and that makes her invincible and fearless. Cat is portrayed as a quiet, introverted sixteen-year-old girl, but from the playbacks of her childhood, we glimpse a different side of her - free-spirited, wild and happy. But one day, something terrible happened. And nothing was ever the same again.

Cat's investigation was very engaging - she tried out different methods to find out the perpetrator who beat Patrick up with a baseball bat, tied him to a gas pump, stuffed a fuel nozzle down his throat, and left him to die without a shred of guilt. Every step she took brought her closer to the answer, but at the same time, things were getting more sinister, and her own life may be at stake. However, she was determined to seek justice for Patrick - she felt that she owed him that much after abandoning him years ago.

Shine presents you with a surprise at every turning of the novel and keeps you guessing. Be warned that this is an emotionally intense book; you may get sucked into the novel without your own knowing. I enjoyed this book tremendously, and I'm so glad that I read it.

Rating:  

Warning: This book contains sexuality, profanity, violence and drug abuse. Parental guidance recommended for teens under the age of eighteen.

About The Author 

 

Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.

Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .

 

Book Review : The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test, #1) by Aimee Carter

Paperback, 304 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Harlequin

Synopsis

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...

Review 

Pros:  

1. It's based on Greek mythology, and the idea of the story itself is charming. 
2. Our heroine is not a wimpy, weak girl; she's loaded with spunk and a strong sense of justice, although sometimes she may think of others too much and blames herself for whatever bad things that happen. 
3. The author's writing has a great flow and the story is suitably paced. I felt myself skimming through the pages without any sense of time.
4. I admired the gorgeous cover and the beautiful font choice more than once. ♥

Cons:

1. I knew something was up with Kate's mom from the beginning of the novel and I suspected her true identity all along. The author made it so obvious that mummy has something to do with the mansion Henry lives in.
2. Kate is a loner who tend to distance herself from everyone. She has zero (mortal) friends. Which is sort of pathetic. She is not a bright person, by the way.
3. The sucky ending. It is incoherent with the rest of the novel. Long story short, it's just plain weird.

Bottomline:

It is true that Aimee Carter's writing style is great, and the storyline is somewhat unique. But, the twist at the end of the story is ridiculous - it feels like the author couldn't come up with enough characters so she just threw in whatever character she could think of and these people were automatically exalted to the status of immortal beings.

Rating:

About The Author

 

Aimée Carter was born and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. Her first novel for young adults, THE GODDESS TEST, was published by Harlequin Teen on April 19th, 2011. The sequel, GODDESS INTERRUPTED, followed in January 2012.  Find her on Twitter at @aimee_carter.

Book Review : Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Published January 3rd 2012 by HarperCollins

International Edition, Paperback

New copy available on:
The Book Depository (Worldwide) $9.75 USD 
Boomerang Books (Australia) $22.49 AUD

Like new second-hand copy available on:
Shop ♥ Books (Malaysia) RM 29.00

Synopsis

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. 

Review

I've been meaning to read this book for a while - ever since I saw the glowing reviews it bagged from the book-blogging community. It seems everyone is in love with this book - which makes me even excited to read it. In fact, I was already anticipating an unusual greatness even before I started reading it. 

In a way, it is good - the plot is quite fresh and the characters are likeable. I would love to see Perry in real life. I wonder what his glow-in-the-dark eyes look like. However, the concept of the Reverie (the virtual place where Aria lived in) was rather confusing. Somehow I couldn't grasp the idea of most of the things described in that place. And the futuristic terms used by the author did more to distract me rather than lure me into the story.

As opposed to the safe live in the Reverie, danger looms everywhere in the Death Shop - the place where Outsiders live. Aether storms destroy lives and things, cannibals roam the jungles, a constant lacking of food supplies... the list goes on and on. But there is one thing that it has and the Reverie doesn't: a sense of naturalism.

The story drags at certain parts, but most of the time it was interesting enough to keep me reading. I think the best part of the story would be discovering Cinder's secret ability. It was totally cool. Long story short, there are things I love about this book, but there are also certain things I wish the author had changed. However, personal feelings aside, Under The Never Sky is a pretty solid debut, and I'd certainly recommend it to fans of dystopian novels, particularly those who loved Divergent by Veronica Roth. 

Rating:

About The Author 

Veronica Rossi's debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, will be published in over twenty international markets, starting on January 3rd 2012 in the United States. Film rights to the trilogy have been optioned by Warner Bros.

When not writing, she chases after her boys, who make her laugh every day, and who teach her about love that's "a million gazillion times bigger than the ocean." 

Book Review : Torn by Cat Clarke

Torn by Cat Clarke

Paperback, 378 pages

Published December 22nd 2011 by Quercus 

New copy available on:
The Book Depository (Worldwide) $9.46 USD 
Boomerang Books (Australia) $15.29 AUD

Like new second-hand copy available on:
Shop ♥ Books (Malaysia) RM 29.00

Synopsis

Four girls. One dead body. A whole lot of guilt.

Alice King isn’t expecting the holiday of a lifetime when she sets off with her classmates on a trip to the Scottish wilderness, but she’s not exactly prepared for an experience beyond her darkest nightmares…

Alice and her best friend Cass are stuck in a cabin with Polly, the social outcast, and Rae, the moody emo-girl. Then there’s Tara – queen of mean. Powerful, beautiful and cruel, she likes nothing better than putting people down. Cass decides it’s time to teach Tara a lesson she’ll never forget. And so begins a series of events that will change the lives of these girls forever...

Review

TORN is a book that deals with guilt. A whole lot of them. Guilt that will gnaw you from inside out. Guilt that makes you feel like a huge stone is slowly crushing you until there's nothing left. There's not a moment that Alice doesn't feel guilty since the "accident" - the one that left Queen of Mean Tara Chambers dead as a doornail.

I've never accidentally done something so terrible as Alice and her friends, but I have definitely done some mistakes in life that I wish I could reverse or make better. I feel connected to Alice in many ways, I can taste her guilt, fear and worry, and her yearning for love from her ex-dead-best friend's brother - and how these feelings crush her soul.

Though there is not much plot in the story as most of them circles around Alice's guilt-ridden self and her attempt to supress the need to tell someone everything, there is an intensity that keeps me reading. Alice feels torn - should she keep her mouth shut and bear the guilt forever or speak the truth and get sentenced to a life in prison?

TORN is a book that is similar to SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. I did not particular love this book, but neither do I find it boring and monotonous. As I've said before, I'm a plot-driven reader, but I think books like these would be nice to read once in a while.

Rating:

About The Author

 

Cat Clarke was born in Zambia and brought up in Edinburgh and Yorkshire, which has given her an accent that tends to confuse people. Cat has written non-fiction books about exciting things like cowboys, sharks and pirates, and now writes YA novels. She lives in Edinburgh with a couple of cats, Jem and Scout, who spend their days plotting to spit up furballs at the most inconvenient times. She likes cheese A LOT, especially baked camembert.

Book Review : Lucy (Daughters of the Sea, #3) by Kathryn Lasky

Lucy (Daughters of the Sea, #3) by Kathryn Lasky

 Hardcover, 320 pages

Published March 1st 2012 by Scholastic Inc. 

Available on Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Synopsis

A choice between love and survival . . .Lucy's family is excited to spend the summer in Bar Harbor, Maine. Her minister father is pleased to preside over such a prestigious congregation, and his social-climbing wife is ecstatic at the chance to find a rich husband for her daughter.Yet Lucy wants nothing to do with the Bar Harbor social scene; she's simply excited to spend the summer by the sea, watching the waves from her favorite spot on the cliff. Despite having never gone swimming, Lucy feels an intense connection to the ocean, and meets a handsome ship-builder who shows Lucy a world she's never known, yet somehow always longed for.However, her mother will stop at nothing to keep Lucy and the ship builder apart, even if it means throwing Lucy into the arms of a wealthy man with a dangerous secret. Can Lucy break free and embrace her destiny as a daughter of the sea? Or is she doomed to waste away in a gilded cage, slowly dying of a broken heart?

 Review

Lucy is a continuation of the Daughters of The Sea series, but as with the second book, it starts with Lucy's story before Hannah and May eventually get pulled within as well. Lucy is a girl with artistic talents and have a great fascination with the sea - much like her two mer-sisters. Her father is a  minister, and her mother is a vain, snobbish woman whose ultimate goal is to find Lucy the perfect husband. However, Lucy falls for someone else instead - someone who has no social standing, yet shares her love for the sea.

I have mixed feelings for this book. I started reading this with much anticipation, as I hoped things will finally be resolved, whether or not the sisters decide to live on land or in the sea. It started out fine - with Kathryn Lasky's trademark smooth, dreamy writing style, and I was excited to fine out more about Lucy.

However, towards the end of the story, Lasky inserted a plot twist which I totally didn't see coming, but it was rather silly. I mean, the motives were too shallow, and I couldn't see the point behind all the drama and fuss. And the story of the three sisters were never given a decent ending. It just ended. Randomly. I'm wondering if this is one of the author's habits? Leaving readers hanging on a cliffhanger at the end of a book (first / second in a trilogy) is a good thing, but ending your last book just like that? Without any conclusion or further explanation? That's just plain weird.

  

Overall, Lucy is a fairly decent book, though I personally thought that it should have been better. I wished to see the respective conclusions for the sisters' star-crossed romance. Will they forsake their love to embrace their true self or sacrifice their special bond with the sea to unite with their loved ones? And how will Lucy's story end? Curiouser and curiouser!

Rating:

Note of Thanks

A huge THANK YOU to Stephanie from Scholastic Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia for providing this review copy!

About The Author
 

Kathryn Lasky is the American author of many critically acclaimed books, including several Dear America books, several Royal Diaries books, 1984 Newbery Honor winning Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her latest book, Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember, was released on November 1, 2008. Guardians of Gahoole: A guide to the Great Tree was released on September 1st, almost a month before projected selling time. She was born June 24, 1944, and grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is married to Christopher Knight, with whom she lives in Boston, Massachusetts.